Package exhausting and sealing machine



April 14, 1931. w. P. WHITE ET AL 1.801,062

PACKAGE EXHAUSTING AND SEALING MACHINE Filgd Feb. 17, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Al- 4 H m/72pm (ll/ f ill- 188 F Hi I April 14, 1931.

w. P. WHITE ET AL 1,801,062

PACKAGE EXHAUSTING AND SEALING MACHINE I Filed Feb. 17, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I PUMP iITlilllln-J l I I Ciuford Z. [065, m

April 14, 1931. w. P. WHITE ET AL PACKAGE EXHAUSTING AND SEALING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w a 5 w x W lk m 7 [H gh 3.1.5 0 x a fi E W E m 0 \u wl lira April 14, 1931. w. P. WHITE ET AL PACKAGE ENHAUSTING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 VRCUUM BEGIN? zzu. s'mnrg uP HANDLING 5THTION IIlIIIllII/Illlll all z"? fzuezifira- Wliz amfm am 17066: J Q A @27 I, A Ill/Ill,"

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM P. WHITE, OF CHICAGO, AND CLIFFORD E. IVES, O1 WILIETTE, ILLINOIS,\AS-

'SIGNORS TO WHITE CAP COMPANY, O

DELAWARE F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF PACKAGE EXHAUSTING AND SEALING MACHINE Application filed February 17, 1928. Serial Io. 255,050.

This invention relates to machines for the vacuumizing and sealing of packages, such as cans or jars of food stuffs.

A general object of the invention is the provision of a machine which will be automatic in operation, so as to maintain proper timing between the exhausting and the sealing functions, which is simple and economical in construction and operation, which is reliable to accomplish proper vacuumlzlng and sealing of the packages, and which possesses a high output capacity.

Another object is the provision of such a machine which includes features aifording 16 safeguards against injury to the operator,

the machine, and the material operated upon.

A further object is the provision of such a machine which afl'ords ready access to all operating parts for purpose of adjustment or 20 inspection, and in which operating parts may be dismounted with facility.

A further object is the provision of such a machine wherein the timing of difierent operations may be varied.

A further object is the provision in such a machine of improved features whereby it is adaptable to operation on packages or jars of diiferentsizes.

A more specific object isthe provision of a vacuumizing and sealing machine in which the space necessary to be exhausted incident to the vacuumizin of packa es, is of minimum volume for t e range 0 sizes of packages desired, whereby the vacuumizing of a package may be accomplished quickly and without the necessity of employing a vacuum.

pump of large volumetric capacity.

' Still another object is the provision of a continuously operated vacuumizing and sealmg machine wherein the packages are vacuumized and sealed while confined in individual bells, which bells are so mounted and operated as to insure the. complete sealing of tinuous feed vacuumizing and sealing mathe interior space from atmosphere during the vacuumlzing and sealing operation and to chine wherein unobstructed handling space is afforded to accommodate rapid positioning of packages for sealing and their quick removal after sealing, by either manual or mechanical handling.

Another object is the provision of a vacuumizing and sealing machine construction. whereby a machine of large output capacity may be embodied within a. relatively small area and wherein the shifting movements of c the vacuumizing chambers or bells are efl'ect ed quickly and in response to comparatively short movements of their actuating means.

Other and further objects will be pointed out or indicated hereinafter, or apparent to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the invention or use of a machine wherein it is embodied.

For the purpose of this application, we. show and describe herein, by way of example, 20 one construction of a machine embodying the invention, and various features of such machine, but it is to be understood that these are presented for purpose of illustration only and guard Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine Fig. 3-is a sectional elevational view on approximately line 3-3 of Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a detail in the nature of a sectional elevation of the pressure elements of the 00 sealing mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail in the nature of a sectional elevation of the sealing head mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a top view pf the machine base showm the bell control cam;

Fig. is a sectional elevation on line 7-7' of Fig. 6, showing a part elevation of the bell control cam;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational detail of the bell lifting mechanism;

switch control mechanism;

Fig. 9 is another sectional elevational detail of the bell, lifting mechanism, taken at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross section of the same, on substantially line 10-10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of one of the bell operating pistons;

Fig 12 is a detail of the oil control valve of the bell lifting mechanism Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating the cycle of operation of the machine;

Fig. 14 is a detail of the control switch operatingmechanism, in the nature of a horizontal section;

Fig. 15 is an elevational detail of the automatic stop mechanism forming a part of the Fig. 16 is a plan detail of the exhaust timing device; and

Fig. 17 is an elevational sectional detail of the same.

The nature of the invention will be ascertained most quickly by immediate reference to the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing. Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, let it be understood that the portion designated by the reference character 10 is a base frame portion which affords a support for the operating parts and a housing for some of them. At its upper end this frame carries a ball race 11 below which are continuous annular flanges 12 forming a groove cam opening inwardly and extending about the base frame. Supported lower in the base frame is a' bearing sleeve 14. A rotary table 15 is supported in covering relationship to the base frame on the balls 16 which run in theball race 11. Depending from the am'al portion of the table is a cylindrical housing 17 forming a closed chamber and having axially disposed joint sleeves 18 through which, with air tight joints, extends a hollow guide shaft 19, which is guided at its lower end in a hearing 20 sustained in the bearing sleeve 14. The hollow guide shaft is closed at its lower end by a cap 21, and carries a pinion 22, by which the shaft is rotated from a worm 24 by a chain 25 from the motor 26. The hollow shaft 19 has a port 19 communicating with the chamber of the housing 17, and at its upper end the shaft carries a valve disk 27 with which cooperates a port disk28, connected by a nipple 29 with an exhaust pipe 30 which leads to an exhaust pump receiver or accumulator, whereby a vacuum may be drawn through the hollow shaft and the chamber of the housing 17 and through ports in the valve plate 27 and port plate 28, as will be described hereinafter. In 90 relationship on the portion of the shaft 19 above the table 15, are the vertical guide splines 31 on which travel the grooved inner ends of the bell guide arms 32, which arms extend radially from the shaft and car at their outer ends the bells 34. Each 0 the bells has an elevating mechanism, which will now be described in detail.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 8, 9, 10 and 11, it will be observed that in positions corresponding with the positions of the several bells, there are mounted on the table 15, below the same, and connected to the housing 17, housing members, each of which comprises a power cylinder portion 35 (Fig. 8) and a plunger cylinder portion 36, which afford internal cylindrical chamber which are in communication at their lower ends.

through the passage 33 in the bottom cover member 38. In the power cylinder 35 fits the piston 39 which carries an upwardly extending bracket 40, laterally upon which is mounted the piston roller 41 which travels between the cam flanges 12.

The piston has 1ts head at its lower end and its body is hollow. The piston head is provided with a valve aperture which is normally closed by the poppet valve 39, arranged to open downwardly. The valve stem 39" is guided in the members 39 and restrained by a spring 39 to hold the valve closed. Pivoted on a lug 39 at the top of the piston is a lever 39 which at its free end bears on the upper end of the valve stem and carries a roller 39 extending above the upper edge 'of the lever .and adapted to travel under the lower cam flange 12.

In the plunger cylinder 36 fits the bell plunger 37, which is a stifl member having its upper end slidably fitting in a sleeve 32 on the guide arm of the associated bell 34, as shown in-Fig. 3. A collar 37", secured to the plunger, limits upward movement of the plunger 1n the sleeve, forming a support on which the bell ma be lifted by the plunger. At the upper en of the plunger cylinder 36 the castin is expanded to form an u per oil cham er '42, from which the gui e sleeve portion 44 extends upwardly through the table 15, affordin passage for the plunger 37. Laterally o the plunger cylinder 36,

assa e 45 Fi 9 connecting the 'upper til chamber i2 ritlfia lower oil chamber 46. This has communication by way of the passage 47 (Fig. 10) with the circumferential groove 48 in the piston 39, above the piston rings, which groove communicates through ports 49 with the interior cavity of the piston. An oil gage 50, set in the cylinder wall, also communicates with the groove 48 and furnishes an indication of the level of the oil within the piston. At its lower end the plunger cylinder 36 opens into oil passage 33, which may have communication with the chamber 46 through the valve (port 52 (Fig. 12), which is normally close by the :valve 54 which seats, under the pressure of its spring and under hydraulic pressure in passage 33, to revent ow from passage 33 to chamber 46, ut which will open under the housing is formed with a vertical oil pressure from passage 46,, to permit flow in the opposite direction. The upper chamber 42 has an overflow passage at 42 which maintains a certain level of liquid in that chamber and permits excess to overflow into passage 45. A proper amount of oil is introduced into the housing through the tap opening 55to fill the plunger cylinder 36, and partially fill piston 39,cha1nber 46,and the communicating passages. The bell plunger 37 is then inserted through the sleeve 44 from above the table and into plunger cylinder 36. In the event the amount of oil in the plunger cylinder 36 and communicating passages does not permit the plunger to set- .tle to its lowermost position, which is that illustrated in Fig. 8, when the piston 39 is at its elevated position, which is that illustrated in Fig. 8. a proper amount of oil may be bypassed from passage 33 to passage 46 by opening the valve 54 through the instrumentality of a push rod 57, the upper end of which projects above the table 15 as a push button 57 and the lower end of which is adapted for engagement with the valve 54. This push rod is normally restrained in its upper position, out of contact with the valve 54, by its spring 58. With the parts thus assembled, upon rotation of the table, the roller 41, riding on one or the other of the flanges 12, will cause the power piston 39 to be forced downwardly and to be raised, at the proper points in the rotation.of the table, determined by the contour of the cam flanges 12, as shown in Fig. 7. When the power piston 39 is forced down, the resulting displacement of oil from the bottom of power cylinder 35 will force the plunger 37 upwardly in the cylinder 36 and raise the bell. Conversely when the power piston 39 is raised by the cooperation of roller 41 and lower cam flange 12, the plunger 37 and bell 34 wil1 be lowered to the point where the latter comes to rest upon the table 15. Any further downward movement of the plunger 37 is accommodated by its sliding in the sleeve 32. The valve-39" of the iston is opened for an instant just before t e piston reaches the limit of its-upward stroke and the bell the lower limit of its movement. This is done for the purpose, of venting any air which may be trapped in the cylinder 35 below the piston, to avoid any bouncing or chattering effect on the bell which might result from the presence of a compressible medium in. the hydraulic operating link. The opening of the valve 39' is effected by the cooperation of the roller 39 with a cam incline or lug 12* on the lower face of the lower cam 12 (see Fig. 7), over which incline the roller 39 travels incident to the rotation ofthe table.

The bell is provided with a sealing gasket 34* projecting from its bottom margin, which. gasket makes contact with the plane surface of the table, forming a hermetic seal bet-ween The chamber 42 provides a receptacle for anyoil which may be carried up on the outer wall of the plunger or which may be forced up- Wardly between it and the inner Wall of the cylinder 36, and also affords an oil pool for keeping the surfaces of the plunger and the cylinder properly lubricated. The proper amount of oil is maintained below the power piston and the plunger by the head of the excess oil in the piston 39, which may pass through the ports 49 and the groove 48 and the port 47 into the passages 45 and 46 and thence through the valve port 52 into the passage 33 and the enlarged portion 36 of the plunger cylinder. The contacting walls of the power piston 39 and cylinder 35 are kept lubricated by the oil in the groove 48. The

roller 41 is lubricated from a cup 59 on the bracket supporting its bearing axle. Any

bell may be lowered from an elevated position by manually depressing its rod 57, which projects above the table as a push button 57. This opens valve 54 and permits oil to exhaust from the plunger cylinder 36 into the reserve chamber 46, the bell meanwhile descending by gravity, at a controlled speed. When operation of the machine is resumed, the next upward stroke of piston 39 will open valve 54 by suction and draw the requisite amount of oil back into the piston cylinder to effect a full lifting of the plunger on the next down stroke of the piston.

The exhausting mechanism will now be described, reference being had particularly to Figs. 3, 16 and 17. As was stated above, the hollow shaft 19 and the chamber of the housin 17 aremaintained in connection with a suita le vacuum pump receiver through the line 30. The valve disk 27 is carried on the upper end of the shaft 19 and rotates therewith, while the port disk 28, which rests upon the upper plane surface of the disk 27 is held stationary by a clamp 60 which is aflixed to a stationary arm 61. 'At points spaced circumferentially in accordance with the location of the several bells 34, the valve disk 27 is provided with valve ports 27, each of which is connected by means of a flexible tube 62 with arespective bell. Theport disk 28 is pressed into sealing engagement with the upper surface of the valve disk 27 by means 0 a spring 64. The port disk 28 is provided with ort channels 28 and 28, the former extending in an arcuate form in the path of the ports 27, and the channel 28 connecting of the ports 27. I

nected with one of the ports 27 is at rest on.

the table 15, and that port closed by the disk 28, the bell is sealed. When the port moves into communication with the port channel 0 28, however, by virtue of the communication thus established with the receiver of the vacuum pump by way of port channels 28, 28 and the bore of sleeve 29, air will be withdrawn from the bell and the negative pressure maintained until the port passes beyond the further end of the channel 28. Subsequently, when the traveling port comes under the relief port 28, atmospheric pressure will be admitted to the bell. Thus it will be seen,

the timing of the exhausting of the respective bells, and the relief of the sub-atmospheric pressure therein, will be determined by the position of the port disk 28 on the retational axis of'the table 15 and shaft 19.

as The clamp 60 permits a selective adjustment of the port disk 28 for thus determining the points, in the rotation of the table 15, at which the bell will be exhausted and relieved.

The sealing mechanism will now be de- 30 scribed, reference being had particularly to Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive. The form of sealing mechanism here illustrated as an example, is of a type designed for seatinga closure on'a vessel by downward pressure applied to the top of the closure and supported by the vessel. Such a closure is illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 1 .590,787. On an extension 10 from the base frame member ismounted a bracket 65 carrying an extensionarm 65 40 which supports the stationary member 61.

I On bracket 65 is mounted a vertically ad justable spring housing 66 which houses an extension spring 67 and a pressure rod 68, which latter is movable longitudinally between limits and is adjustable relatively to the tension of the spring by the nuts 69. The pressure lever 70 has a hinge mounting on the extension 65 and lies above the path of the bells, presenting a plane undersurface which first slopes downwardly and then upwardly in the direction in which the bells progress. The swinging end of the lever 70 is connected to the rod 68, so that said end of the 'lever is yieldably restrained in its lowermost position by the ressure of the spring 67. Each bell is provided on its top with an upwardly extendlng hood or sleeve portion 71 which partially encompasses an opening in the top of the bell for accommodation of the hub 72 of the sealing head 72. The sealing head comprises a, disk 72 conforming generally to the cross sectional contour of the bell and havin a free swiveling connection with the hub 72 which has screwthread engagement in a connecting sleeve 74, agasket 75 forming a hermetic seal be tween the bell and the outer surface of the sleeve 74. The upper end of sleeve 74 fits in a socket in a bushing 76 which has upwardly extending arms 76 in which is journaled a roller 77. A set screw 74 secures the sleeve to the bushing. A flange 7 6" on the bushing 76 is adapted to engage a shoulder 71 of the hood 71 to limit upward movement of the sealing head 72, which upward movement is induced by a spring 78 compressed between a flange 7 6 of the bushing, and a gland bushing 79 which compresses the sleeve packing 75. The bells travel in a course which brings their rollers 77 under the. inclined surface of the pressure lever 70 so that, as the table rotates and a bell progresses, its roller rides down and then up the lower surface of the lever 70, thus forcing down the sealing head- 72 against the pressure of the spring 78, and, after the lowermost point of the inclined surface of the pressure lever" 70 is passed, permittingthe sealing head 72 to rise under the influence of its spring 78. The sealing head 72 is given a. range of vertical adjustment', so that it may be accommodated to jars of difierent height. This vertical adjustability is afiorded by the screw-thread seating of the hub 72 in the sleeve 74, in which it may be turned by a spanner engaged in seats 72".

As stated above, the sealing head or anvil 72 has a swiveling movement on the hub 72,

this for the purpose of accommodating the sealing pressure to containers which may be higher at one side than at another. This condition is frequently met with in glass jars or tumblers, due to the fact that after removing the container from the mould while still in a semi-plastic condition, the material may slightly flow or settle atone side. If the sealinghead is rigid on its hub,

there is likelihood that the closure would not I be completely seated on the lower side of such a deformed container, while by the swiveled arrangement, the sealing head may tilt, equalizing the downward pressure over both the higher and lower sides of a deformed vessel, and seating the closure completely at both sides. -This swivel connection in the illustrative form shown is obtained by means of a split spring ring 72 which holds the sealing head and hub connected, yet allows tilting movement of the former in all directions.

The control mechanism will now be described, reference being had particularly to Figs. 1, 1, 3, 14 and 15. The electric current supply to the operating motor 26 is controlled by a snap switch 81 in the switch circuit 81, which switch is mounted in a housing 82 on the base frame. This housing carries a sleeve portion 82 supporting a vertical sleeve 84 in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 85. This shaft is connected with the lever of the the switch switch through the -medium of an adjustable screw arm 86 and a link 87, so that the switch may be opened and closed by appropriate rotation of the shaft 85. At its lower end the shaft 85 is connected by an arm 88 to a rod 89, the other end of which carries a handle 90 which is positioned near the charging station of the machine, so that the operator, by manipulation of the handle, may open and close the switch to stop and start the machine. In order that the machine may be stopped automatically in the event one of the bells does not reach its proper position on the table 15 before the bell progresses to the exhausting position, a tripping guard 91 is connected at one end to a lever arm 85 and shiftably supported at other points by an idler shaft 83 and a bracket 83', so that when 81 is closed, the guard will occupy a position over the margin of the path of the bell. The guard is at such an elevation that the bell will clear it if the latter is in its fully lowered position. In the event the bell is not in fully lowered position, however, it will engage the tripping guard 91 and, incident to the progressive movement of the bell, will swing the guard outwardly to the dotted line position shown on Fig. 1, thus rotating the shaft 85 and throwing the switch and stopping the machine. The machine cannot be started thereafter so long as a bell remains elevated within the span of the guard 91, as such bell will prevent the inward movement of the guard to a position permitting the rotation of shaft 85 suflicient to throw the switch.

The cycle of the machine, which is determined by the cam flanges 12, the position of the port disk 28 and the position of the pressure lever 70, is illustrated in the diagram in Fig. 13 which represents the orbit of the bells. starting with the bell in raised position at the charging station, a jar or can, with the closure loosely in place on it, is set on the table 15 under the bell. This may be accomplished while the table is moving. As the bell and table progress, the former is held in elevated position until the roller 41 of the bell elevating mechanism starts to ride up the flange of cam 12, at the position marked Bell starts down, at which position the power piston 39 starts to rise, reaching its upper limit at the position marked Bell down, at which position the bell is seated on the table. As described above, just as the bell is about to reach the lower limit of its movement, the piston valve opens, at approximately the point designated Vent valv'e opens. The legend Vacuum begins marks the point at which the port 27 of the bell in question is placed in communication with the port chan nel 28, and the bell consequently subjected to the vacuumizing effect of the exhausting apparatus.

Incident tothis exhausting operation, the

chamber of the housing 17 in which a vacuum is maintained, functions as an equalizing reservoir, taking a portion of the air from the bell and preventing a too sudden application of the entire exhausting pressure of the exhausting apparatus. The exhausting apparatus continues to draw from the bell dur ing the period through which the bell port travels in communication with the port channel 28, thus giving ample opportunity for the contemplated vacuumizing of the package. The legend Vacuum complete marks the point in the travel of the bell at which the port 27 is closed oif from the port channel 28, the vacuum beingheld on the bell durin the time that the roller 77 of the sealing mechanism rides down the pressure lever 70, reaching its lowest limit at the point designated Seal complete. This movement of the roller is transmitted to the sealing head and from it to the closure on the vessel, with the efi'ect of forcing the closure down into sealing position on the vessel. The spring 67 of the sealing mechanism will yield in the event the movement of the sealing head is opposed by resistance exceeding the pressure requisite to seat the closure, so that breaking or distor tion of the vessel is avoided. With the closure seated, the sealing head is held in its depressed position so as to maintain the closure firmly seated until atmospheric pressure is restored in the bell, whichis accomplished,

at the point designated Atmospheric pressure restored, by the movement of the bell port 27" into communication with atmosphere through the relief port 28. The atmospheric pressure having been restored within the bell, the sealing head 72 is raised by its spring as the sealing roller 77 travels up the inclined end of the pressure lever 70, such movementbeing initiated at the point designated Sealing head starts up, and being completed in the position designated Sealing head up. The power piston roller 41, which meanwhile has been traveling on the elevated portion of the lower cam flange 12, then reaches the point where the cam flanges 12 bend downwardly, with the resultthat the downward movement of the power piston 39 is initiated at the point designated Bell starts up. The downward movement of the pleted at the point designated Bell up, at which point the roller 41 has reached the lower course of the cam flanges 12, which course continues past the charging station, thus maintaining the bell in its elevated position, to permit removal of the sealed package and the positioning of one to be sealed, as above described.

Any bell arm 32, with its attached bell, may be removed from the plunger 37 when the latter is in its lowered position, by simply sliding the arm upwardly off of the plunger, and then withdrawing the arm radially from the shaft 19 to disengage the arm guide mission link between groove from the guide spline 31. An sealing head may be removed from its bell by backing ofi its set screw 7 4 and withdrawing the sleeve 74 downwardly through the bell. After such removal, a desired adjustment of hub 72 may be made in sleeve 74 to accommodate the sealing head to the height of the packages to be sealed. All operating parts excepting the bells and the upper ends of the sealing devices are housed, and the latter are entirely out of the way of the operator. The valve 54 constitutes a safety feature for both operator and package, as if a bell comes'down on top of a package or on the hand of the operator, the bell is stopped thereby without subjecting the object to injurious pressure, as the suction from the piston will open that valve and permit oil to enter the piston cylinder and the plunger and bell to stop. For ease and smoothness in operation, the bell and bell arm portions on opposite sides of the sleeve 32 should approximately balance.

It will be understood, of course, that the machine may be operated either continuously or intermittently. Continuous operation gives the greatest output per hour, and in such continuous operation the rotation of the table is constant. Feed of the packages to the table and their discharge therefrom may be carried on either manually or automatically by mechanism synchronized with the machine. The use of a hydraulic medium for operating the bells attains several advantages, among which may be mentioned the ability to obtain quick lifting and lowering movements of the bells without shock, flexibility of adjustment and control, compactness of the assembly, elimination of wear and simplicity of lubrication. All of these features contribute to speed of operation and increase of output, as well as ability of the machine to remain continuously in operation over prolonged-periods.

What we claim is:

1. In a package sealing machine, in combination, a bell for receiving a package,

means for exhausting air from the bell, a hydraulically operated plunger for lifting the bell, actuating means, and a hydraulic medium forming a reciprocal power-transmitting link between the actuating means and plunger.

2. In a package sealing machine, in combination, a vertically movable bell for receiving a package, a'piston, means for.op-' erating the piston, and a hydraulic transthe piston and bell and through which lifting and lowering movements of the bell are controlled by the piston.

3. In a package sealing machine, in combination, a bell for receivingta package, means for revolving the bell infan orbit, a plunger for lifting the bell, a hydraulic medium for transmitting power to the plunger,

bination, a bell for receiving a package,'a

reciprocable hydraulic link through which lifting power is transmitted to the bell, actuating means operable to effect reciprocating movement of the hydraulic link and meansfor varying the volume of hydraulic medium in the hydraulic link.

6. In a package sealing machine, in com-- bination, a sup ort for a package, a bell. for enclosing 3, pac age on the support, bell actuating means including a hydraulic link reciprocable tolift and lower the bell with respect to the support and means for venting air from the hydraulic link. 7

7. In a package sealing machine, in combination, a movable bell for receiving a package, a plunger connected with the bell, a reciprocablepiston, a casing affording a con-.

tainerfor a body of hydraulic medium which forms a'power transmission link between the piston and plunger and which is reciprocable' with the piston, means for actuating the piston, and means for venting the container be,- tween the piston and plunger.

8. In a package sealin machine, in combination, a package reeeivin .bell mounted for progressive travel, bell li ing means including'a piston operated incident to travel package receiving bell, a bell operating mechan1sm comprising a hydraulically linked piston and plum er, the latter having connection with the be 1, and means for operating the piston to effect reciprocatory movement of the hydraulic link.

11. In a package sealing machine having a rotary table, the combination of bells mounted for revolution with the table, bell actuatingmeans comprising hydraulically linked pistons and plungers associated with respective bells, and means for actuating the pistons incident to rotation of the table to transmit power to the plungers through the medium of their hydraulic linkage.

12. In a package sealing machine, in combination, a rotary table, a piston carried by the table, a cam cooperating with the piston to reciprocate it incident to rotation of the table, a plunger hydraulically linked with the piston for reciprocation by the latter through the medium of their hydraulic linkage, and a package-receiving bell mounted for revolution with the table and reciprocation with the plunger.

13. In a package sealing machine, the com bination with a rotary table, of bells mounted for rotation with the table and arranged to seat thereon adjacent its periphery, bell actuating mechanism associated with respective bells, said bell actuating mechanisms having operative connection with their respective bells, means for operating the bell actuating mechanisms to raise and lower the bells in timed relationship to the rotation of the table, and means operable selectively to eifect lowering movement of individual bells independently of their actuating mechanisms.

14. A combination as specified in claim 13, together with means for exhausting air from the bells during a portion of their travel.

15. A combination as specified in claim 13, together with closure applying means carried by the bells and sealing means effective thereon during a portion of the travel of the bells.

16. In a package sealing machine, in combination, a rotary table, an axial guide shaft carried thereby, bell arms guided at their inner ends on said shaft and extending radially therefrom over the table, bells carried in the outer ends of said bell arms and adapted to seat on the table adjacent its periphery, bell elevating mechanisms carried by and below the table and connected with respective bells, and means for o erating said bell actuatin mechanisms incident to rotation of the table to raise and lower the bells.

17. In a package sealing machine, in combination, a table for supporting a package, a guide extending upwardly from the table, a bell arm guiding at one end on said guide, a bell carried at the other end of the guide arm and adapted to seat on the table, elevating mechanism disposed below the table, a con necting member extending through the table and operably connecting the bell arm and elevating mechanism, said bell arm being withdrawable from operative connection with said elevating mechanismto permit its disengagement from the guide.

18. In a package sealing machine, in combination, a rotary table, bells mounted for revolution with the table and adapted to seat thereon, driving means for rotating the table, elevating means timed with the rotation of the table to accomplish lifting and lowering of the bells, a tripping device arranged adj a- 2. connected with the bell, and

cent a portion of the orbit of the bells in position for engagement b, a bell in an elevated position, and stop mechanism under control of the tripping device to render the driving means ineffective to rotate the table. 19. A combination as specified in claim 18, together with means for exhausting air from the bells during a portion of their revolution. 20. A combination as specified in claim 18, together with manually operable means for effecting the lowering of the bells individually independently of the elevating means. Y 21. In a package sealing machine, in combination, a vertically movable bell, cyclically operating mechanism for alternately raising and lowering the bell, and manually operable means for effecting the lowering of the bell independently of the cyclically operating mechanism.

22. In a package exhausting and sealing machine, in combination, a table for supporting a package, a plunger reciprocable vertically with respect to the table, a bell carried by said plunger above the table and adaptedto seat on the latter, a cylinder cooperating with the plunger below the table, a piston, a hydraulic medium forming a power-transmitting link between the piston and plunger, and means for operating the piston to effect reciprocation of the plunger through the medium of the hydraulic link.

23. A combination as specified in claim 22 and wherein the plunger is of comparatively small area and comparatively long stroke and the piston is of comparatively large area and comparatively short stroke.

24. A package sealing machine comprising, in combination, a rotary table, a bell adapted to seat thereon, means for rotating the table, a piston carried by the table, a cam rendered effective by movement of the table to reciprocate the piston, a plunger operably a h draulic medium operable by the piston to eii ct raising and lowering of the lunger.

25. A machine as specified in claim 2 and in which the hydraulic transmission link is eifective to increase the ratio of movement between the piston and bell.

26. In a acking sealin machine, in combination, a hell arranged i61- lifting and lowering movements, actuating means for moving the bell progressively, a tripping device in a position to be engaged by the bell if in a lifted position, and stop means operable through said trippin device to render the gcfiiating means me ective to advance the 27. In a package sealing machine, in combination, a movable bell, cyclically operating mechanism for alternately raising and lowering the bell, and manually o erable means for effecting the lowering of t e bell during and independently of operation -of the cyclically operating mechamsm.

28. In a package sealing machine bination a verticall reciprocable bell, means for moving the bel progressively, a pision movable progressively with the bell, a plunger operably connected with the bell, a by draulic medium operable by the piston to effect raising and owerin of the plunger, and means for operating t e piston incident to its progressive movement.

29. In a package sealing machine, in combination, a rolatable table, a vertically reciprocable bell above the table and adapted to seat thereon, a vertically reciprocable meme ber operably connected to the bell and extending below the table, a reciprocable actuating member below the table, and pressure transmitting. means below the table operably connecting said vertically reciprocable and actuating members and operable b the latter to transmit movement to the tormer in augmented ratio.

30. A package sealing machine as specified in claim 29 and wherein the reciprocatory movement of the actuating member is parallel to that of the vertically reciprocable mem er. In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our-names.

' "WILLIAM P. WHITE.

CLIFFORD E. IVES.

mum

in' com 

